Jacque Talbot
AN OUTBREAK of the deadly virus Listeria has been confirmed in Mallorca by the Ministry of Health.
A cancer patient, the first reported to have caught the virus in Mallorca, is recovering in a private clinic in Palma.
It comes after samples of the bacteria were sent to be tested in Madrid to confirm if it is the same strain as the recent outbreak in Andalucia.
It is extremely likely given she had recently arrived from a break in Granada.
So far three people have died and seven women have aborted babies in southern Spain.
The total number of cases confirmed around the country has already hit an alarming 214, according to the Junta de Andalucia.
On Wednesday, three new cases of infection were reported in Andalusia.
A pair were pregnant women, one of which has given birth, with the newborn in treatment. The other woman is still pregnant and remains in care.
Listeria rarely kills healthy individuals but can kill those who are medically vulnerable, such as cancer patients and pregnant women.
The infection is often passed to their babies, as it can travel through their blood and reach the fetus.
The dangerous bacteria is spread through food and can cause severe illnesses including sepsis, meningitis and other life-long problems.
The strain is confirmed to have come from a type of meatloaf produced from a Cadiz company.
The Sabores de Paterna company has been shut down, while it undergoes an in-depth inspection.
Balearic residents are being warned to avoid the product at all costs.
